Clemson ranked in NCAA Selection Committee top-10

The NCAA Tournament Selection Committee confirmed just how impressive No. 15 Clemson’s run has been with its release of the top-16 seeds Sunday afternoon.

The committee ranked the Tigers (20-4, 9-3 ACC) as the ninth-best team in the nation, which translates to a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest region currently.

"It would be great in three weeks if we were a three-seed and we really wouldn't mind where we went," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said on a CBS rankings reveal show Sunday. "I'm really proud of the way our guys have played this year. We've gotten off to a great start and we certainly have a little work to finish."

The NCAA started its one sneak peek at the top-16 seeds last season and only two teams in that initial top-16 finished seeded more than one line lower in the March tournament (Baylor, 1-seed to 3-seed; Virginia, 3-seed to 5-seed).

Clemson is in contention for the highest NCAA Tournament seeding in school history, looking to top a previous high of a 4-seed.

Brownell was asked about the consistency of his team on the CBS broadcast Sunday.

"Our success this year and consistency is that we have three guards on the perimeter in Marcquise Reed, Gabe DeVoe and Shelton Mitchell, who are experienced players and are really playing at a high level," Brownell said.

Clemson gets a crack at two of the top teams in the ACC coming up, with a trip to Florida State (KenPom rating: 25) Wednesday (7 p.m.) and hosting projected 2-seed Duke next Sunday (1 p.m.).